Angelina Jolie in Rome ahead of meeting the Pope

Angelina Jolie is in Rome ahead of her reported imminent meeting with the Pope. The Unbroken director and Oscar-winning actress, who is set to be introduced to Pope Francis in a special "VIP meet-and-greet at the Vatican" according to Us Weekly, took her two eldest daughters Zahara and Shiloh on her special trip to the Italian capital.

The 39-year-old actress was spotted with her daughters Shiloh, aged eight, and nine-year-old Zahara at Ciampino airport in Rome on Wednesday afternoon.

The Jolie-Pitt ladies later stepped out for a spot of shopping, heading to local toy shop Berte in Piazza Navona. Angelina, a UN Goodwill Ambassador, dressed in a chic black overcoat and knee-length leather boots and wore her brunette locks loose for the outing.

It is understood that Angelina's husband Brad Pitt was also scheduled to attend the meeting with the Pope but due to a "last minute change" didn't make the trip, a source tells Us Weekly.

While Hollywood star Angelina is famed for her successful career on screen, she has also been busy in recent years in her role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador.

Last year, she co-chaired an event campaigning for the end of sexual violence in war zones, along with UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

A source tells 3am: "Angelina is a very passionate campaigner, so even though this meeting has taken a long, long time to come to fruition, she was determined to make it happen.

"Her work as a humanitarian has been noticed and appreciated.

A Vatican source explains: "The visit has been in the works for some time and is part of Angelina's ongoing work with the UNHCR."

According to a source, both Angelina and Brad "admire the Pope" and "like the Pope's message" after he famously spoke about homosexuality in 2013. He said: "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge?"

The star couple have spoken out in support of gay marriage many times and even pledged not to marry until every couple in America could - later though, Brad admitted the pair "wouldn't be able to hold out" and they married in France in 2014.